eReaders are both more economic (after a certain number of books) and more convenient. There is a high initial investment, after which the cost per book is significantly lower. On top of that, it's far lighter, can store multiple books, and is more portable, can be read in the dark and less likely to get damaged (paper tears etc). It doesn't cause eyes strain as the letters are not backlit (but there is the option for night reading), it reads like normal paper.

(Original post by donutellme)
eReaders are both more economic (after a certain number of books) and more convenient. There is a high initial investment, after which the cost per book is significantly lower. On top of that, it's far lighter, can store multiple books, and is more portable, can be read in the dark and less likely to get damaged (paper tears etc). It doesn't cause eyes strain as the letters are not backlit (but there is the option for night reading), it reads like normal paper.

I prefer the feel of a physical book, yet most of my reading is done on my iPad because it's just more cost and space efficient. I would not be able to read nearly as much as I do if I only had the option of physical books just because I wouldn't be afford it. I've read 37 books this year so far and 12 were physical. Only five of those books did I "own" vs borrowing. One of those five I won in a FaceBook competition. Another I bought just to support my friend's writing career.

Paperback ftw.
I have etextbooks for school but I'm actually going to buy the paperbacks because they are just more convenient and I feel like I absorb more information if it's physically all in front of me.

(Original post by sinfonietta)
I prefer the feel of a physical book, yet most of my reading is done on my iPad because it's just more cost and space efficient. I would not be able to read nearly as much as I do if I only had the option of physical books just because I wouldn't be afford it. I've read 37 books this year so far and 12 were physical. Only five of those books did I "own" vs borrowing. One of those five I won in a FaceBook competition. Another I bought just to support my friend's writing career.

A kindle is great for portability, you can carry more than you would ever be able to read on a holiday, for example. It is light with a great battery life, plus there are neat features. You can search the dictionary for an unknown word, go to sections of the book where a word appears, stuff like that.

It is also anonymous, no-one knows what you are reading.

As regards cost, it is a no brainer. If you read classics, out of copyright, you can get many of them totally free.

But there is a tactile pleasure to be had from holding a proper book. And you need to turn the pages less than you do on a kindle, at least for the font size you are comfortable with. Plus a good edition of a classic will almost always have explanatory notes. You really miss those on a kindle.

I read military history as well. Illustrations and maps aren't great on a kindle.

Horses for courses, both have their advantages, I would never stick to just the one reading medium.

A kindle is great for portability, you can carry more than you would ever be able to read on a holiday, for example. It is light with a great battery life, plus there are neat features. You can search the dictionary for an unknown word, go to sections of the book where a word appears, stuff like that.

It is also anonymous, no-one knows what you are reading.

As regards cost, it is a no brainer. If you read classics, out of copyright, you can get many of them totally free.

But there is a tactile pleasure to be had from holding a proper book. And you need to turn the pages less than you do on a kindle, at least for the font size you are comfortable with. Plus a good edition of a classic will almost always have explanatory notes. You really miss those on a kindle.

I read military history as well. Illustrations and maps aren't great on a kindle.

Horses for courses, both have their advantages, I would never stick to just the one reading medium.

Yes illustrations, even black & white, are hopeless on the paperwhite.

Still a need (and yes, tactile preference) for real books in some cases